Chapter 265 – Undercover! (1/2)
Evening.
Lu An City.
The sky is dark, and the streets are crowded.
Dong Xuebing did not drive his car over. Instead, he took a long-distance bus to this unfamiliar city. He looked at the strangers passing by and went over to a newspaper stand to buy a map and a tourist guide. After that, he sat at a bench and started familiarizing himself with the city’s roads and landmarks. Dong Xuebing tried to memorize everything, before getting into a Taxi.
“Hi, bring me to Hai Bing Bath Parlor. Thank you.” Dong Xuebing sat in the rear passenger seat.
The driver turns and looks at Dong Xuebing. “Young man, you are not a local? Your accent is not from here.”
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
“That place has a complicated background and is not ‘clean.’” The driver continued. “If you are out to have fun, you should go to Big Sea Dragon Bath Parlor. It’s not far from here.”
Dong Xuebing asked curiously. “Why is that place not clean? Tell me about it.”
The driver is chatty and explained to Dong Xuebing while driving. Most bath parlors are not ‘clean’ as most of them offer prostitution services. But the driver is not referring to such services. He meant that Hai Bing Bath Parlor has frequent fights, extortions, etc. and has a bad reputation and is backed by the triads. The only plus point of going there is the customers do not need to worry about Police. The boss of that bath parlor has connections with the Police.
Dong Xuebing had expected this to happen and did not mind.
It is a gamble for Dong Xuebing to come to Lu An City.
Dong Xuebing does not know if sasasa668’s information is accurate or not. Even if it is true, he also does not know if the relics are still with the boss of Hai Bing Bath Parlor. That’s why Dong Xuebing did not report the information to his higher-ups or anyone else. Firstly, this information cannot be verified, and secondly, if the information is wrong, it will be a disgrace. If the Provincial Public Security Bureau sent their men to arrest the people at Hai Bing Bath Parlor and did not find anything, Dong Xuebing might be penalized for giving false information.
These are the reasons why Dong Xuebing decided to come and investigate himself.
Yes. Dong Xuebing is going to infiltrate into Hai Bing Bath Parlor as an undercover. Anyway, he has a week off from work.
To prevent from being exposed, Dong Xuebing left all his identification cards, watches, jade pendant, car, and even changed his clothes. He wore cheap roadside clothes, and before he comes over, he called many people to tell them that he will be going away for a vacation. He even made up a lie that he will be going hiking in the mountains, and his phone will be off. For the next ten days, no one is going to look for him.
Downtown, Central Street North.
Dong Xuebing alighted from the Taxi and looked at the signage across the road.
Dong Xuebing did not enter the parlor immediately and walked around the surroundings.
After Dong Xuebing was familiar with the surroundings, he tidied his shirt and tie. Before he left Yan Tai County, he had gone for a haircut and looks very different now, as he is afraid someone would recognize him. Although the people in Lu An City will not read Yan Tai County’s newspapers, Dong Xuebing had appeared in the Provincial’s newspapers. The picture published in the papers is not recent and is not clear, but he must be careful not to be exposed.
Ok!
Everything is ready!
Dong Xuebing braced himself and took long strides towards the entrance.
The two staff at the door saw Dong Xuebing was dressed in cheap clothes, but they still maintained a smile and bows to him.
“Welcome.”
“Welcome.”
The floor of the lobby is marble and is red color. Many people are registering at the front counter, and Dong Xuebing looks around. He saw staff in the early thirties and walked over.
“Are you all hiring?” Dong Xuebing asked.
The crew-cut man looks at Dong Xuebing. “You are looking for a job? What do you know?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “I know a bit about everything.”
“Massage too? Do you have a massage license?”
“Huh? No.”
The crew-cut man waved his hand. “That means you don’t know anything. Leave.” Bath parlors do not lack general workers and hostesses. What they lack are licensed professional masseurs. Not all their customers are looking for prostitutes. Most of them are seeking real massages. People can learn massage quickly, but they are not professionals. A professional masseur has a license, and not many of them are willing to work in such places.
Dong Xuebing smacked his lips. “Although I do not have a license, I am strong. Look…”
The Crew-cut man shook his head. “We don’t need general workers.”
“I don’t mind about the salary. Just give me some money, provide food and shelter will do.”
The Crew-cut man shook his head and waved Dong Xuebing away.
Dong Xuebing was frustrated. I am a Deputy Bureau Chief, and I can fight and is good with firearms. Why can’t I get the job of a general worker with my capabilities? He was mad and felt like slapping that Crew-cut man! However, Dong Xuebing will not leave so quickly. He does not believe that he will be rejected from a job application. He pestered that man for over twenty minutes!
The Crew-cut man was getting irritated and wanted to get the security to chase Dong Xuebing out.
Dong Xuebing immediately thought of an excuse. “I had worked for Brother Bao at his car wash and workshop. I am very smart.”
The Crew-cut man paused for a second and ask. “Which Brother Bao?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Brother Bao from Fen Zhou City.”
Yan Tai County is under the jurisdiction of Fen Zhou City, and Dong Xuebing had read about someone by the name of Old Bao from the old case files. Old Bao, whose nickname is Brother Bao, owns a motor workshop. Although his business is not significant, he is well known among the triads. Although Fen Zhou City is far from Lu An City, since Hai Bing Bath Parlor has triad connections, they should have heard of Brother Bao.
Dong Xuebing had guessed correctly. The Crew-cut man asked. “Why are you not working at the workshop now?”
“Sigh… don’t talk about it.” Dong Xuebing continued. “It is too tiring, and I was working for almost twenty hours every day.”
“Are you interested in working here?” That man looks at Dong Xuebing. “The work here is also tiring.”
Dong Xuebing immediately nods his head.
The Crew-cut man thought for a while and said. “The housekeeping department needs a few people to wash towels. 600 RMB a month, and food and lodging will be provided. If you agree, you can start today.”
Dong Xuebing pretended to be troubled. “600… can you increase to 800?”
The Crew-cut man snapped at Dong Xuebing. “600! Take it or leave it!”
“Fine… 600.”
The Crew-cut man made a call to inform the housekeeping department about Dong Xuebing and start showing Dong Xuebing around the place. He showed the bath area, the billiard and recreation rooms, the guest rooms, etc. Dong Xuebing memorized the layout as he was brought into an office. The Crew-cut man suddenly asked Dong Xuebing for his identification card.
Dong Xuebing replied with a crying face. “I… lost it.”
The Crew-cut man frowned. “How are you going to start work without an identification card? How do I know where you are from?”
“Please… I lost my identification card.”
The Crew-cut man had seen many people like Dong Xuebing. He does not believe Dong Xuebing had lost his identification card. Most of the people like Dong Xuebing are the ones wanted by the Police for petty theft or robberies. That’s why they are paranoid of other people looking at their identification cards. He thought for a while and did not say anything. After all, their bath parlor is also doing illegal activities. He told Dong Xuebing about some of the rules and asked one of his men to bring Dong Xuebing to the housekeeping department.
On the back of the second floor.
Behind a small door, it is very different from the grand majestic renovations outside. Rows of small rooms were lined up along the corridor, and the partitions were made from inferior materials. This is the workers’ quarters. Dong Xuebing is assigned to the sixth room. When he opens the door, there is a strong detergent smell, and two young men in their twenties were washing clothes inside. The room is tiny but can fit four bunk beds.
Dong Xuebing is not happy with the environment, but he did not show it on his face.